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JennGM
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| Posted: Aug 21 2007 at 1:18pm | IP Logged
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I could use a brainstorming session. I know the next months of pregnancy are going to require a lot of confinement, perhaps to bed, but at least minimal activity. My son will be 4, is close to beginning reading. I was thinking of incorporating some activities to help the beginning language (including writing) and math skills. I'm not only looking at Montessori, but was trying to incorporate some aspects.
Of course we'll be doing lots of quiet things -- books, puzzles, and art. The ideas need to be minimal mess and not Mom-labor intensive, and all nearby at arms length.
Here's where I need help. I won't be able to make nice displays or trays (the learning area isn't located by my bed or couch  ). I don't have lots of money or time or physical ability to do a set up in this time-period.
The idea is to use some Montessori concepts and materials, but not really apply "true Montessori" to our learning. In other words, I'll direct more what things to do or cover, rather than letting him always choose. I don't know if this exactly makes sense. I'm looking for fun, but he's eager to move on, and since I'll be his captive audience....
Things that come to mind that I do have, or will have access to are sandpaper letters, writing in sand, movable alphabet. Math ideas or materials I completely lack. I don't have a printer or laminator, so I can't really start on 3 part cards projects or anything.
I also am planning on doing some catch-up scrapbooking, and wondered if anyone has done notebooks or scrapbooks with a child at this young age, what areas or things we could cover? An alphabet book?
Any ideas welcome! Just brainstorming right now.
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: Aug 21 2007 at 1:25pm | IP Logged
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I forget who it was a long time ago who had shared a fabulous ABC scrapbook they had done with their child. It was really neat with a letter per page, lots of cute pictures, etc. Anyone else remember that?
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Donna Marie
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| Posted: Aug 21 2007 at 1:31pm | IP Logged
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Do an alphabet book! I was JUST cleaning off my school shelves (like three minutes ago...LOL)and I came across the books that 2 of my dc did one year...what a keepsake.
We just did simple pasting for each letter of the alphabet. On the pages ahead of time I wrote in glitter glue the capital and lowercase letter so it was bumpy and beautiful to trace. I used red for consonants and blue for vowels. I would use a page or two for each letter. On the first page we cut out a simple tree trunk and green circle for the leaves of a tree and I had them glue on little apples pre-cut from red construction paper that they drew the upper and lowercase A on...and so on for the other letters of the alphabet...The only thing I would do differently is to use cardstock instead of construction paper so it lasts longer.
Another thing I did was this personal ABC book last year....worked out great.
There are so many ways to have fun with this...if you want less cutting, just use the ole crayolas. Have fun with it!
God love you!
Donna Marie from NJ
hs momma to 7dc 
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God love you!
Donna Marie from NJ
hs momma to 9dc!!
Finding Elegant Simplicity
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Meredith
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| Posted: Aug 21 2007 at 2:21pm | IP Logged
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My preschoolers, LOVE to do alphabet books and numbers books, here's a sampling of A Number Page
For math materials, ANYTHING can be counted, y 1's, 2's, 10's etc - beans, chocolate chips  buttons, large stringing beads. They can also be sorted and patterned, many surprises can come from a mystery bag set up in minutes for him to explore and sort. How about some of the "toob" animals for him to tell you if they have four legs, two, wings, etc.
Prayers for you Jenn during this difficult time!! Try and relax and just know that this is just temporary
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Meredith
Mom of 4 Sweeties
Sweetness and Light
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cgregas
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| Posted: Aug 21 2007 at 5:30pm | IP Logged
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When my boys were this age we would pick a letter for the week and wherever we went we would try and find things that began with that letter. They always had so much fun with this. We would also take a letter from the alphabet and glue it to a page in a notebook then find things in magazines or the newspaper that began with that letter. This was also great for learning to use scissors. Some books that were always fun for them were the abc series from Rod and Staff. Sorry I couldn't get the link to work. 
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SeaStar
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Jenn, here is a link for the Letter of the Week program.
I did the whole program with my ds, and it's full of simple and fun ideas for every letter of the alphabet spread out over a week. I especially liked the recommended books for each letter. That's something you could do from the couch- order library books on line, then have your dh pick them up. You and your son could read them over the week.
Also, there is the I Spy game- you tell your ds you spy an object starting with letter A, B, etc- then he runs around the room finding the objects while you sit put and rest. Or you say simple words like bug, cat and ask your ds what the ending sound is (or have him pick up the letter card from a choice of three).
For math, if you have an abacus, you can do all kinds of addition, subtraction, etc- even spell out letters on it. Or you can play the game of you make a design or a move (ex. slide over three yellow beads) and then he has to imitate you. You could also make a "count down to baby" calendar and cross off the number each day... good for numbers, days, months, counting how many days left- all that...
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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MarilynW
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Jenn - I will speak to you this week - but here are some ideas
- I second Letter of the Week for simplicity. Matt started an Alphabet and Number book last year - we printed out stuff from Alphabuddies and Preschool coloring book, used stickers etc.
- I am using Queen homeschool's Language for little ones this year- gentle CM approach - just to make it easy for me as I am not high energy right no
- We have a lot of learning toys - picture Lotto, See and spell, Leap frog letter etc plus the Leapfrog videos
- I would just read aloud as many books as you can eg the FIAR books, Catholic Mosaic ones etc
- Play books on CD eg the Jim Weiss ones, Curious George, and also things like CAT chat
- For Math - have your wooden and geometric toys eg Wedgits, stackers, etc. Also living Math books, videos like Math Circus, Lauri puzzles
- For Art maybe use something like Preschool Art - easy art ideas, not much work for mama
- Music - have the Classical Cats cd and Beethovens Wig ones - as well as lots of other classical/ethnic music
I am hopefully writing a plan for Matt a month at a time - I would be happy to e-mail to you.
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Marilyn
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Erin
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MarilynW wrote:
I am hopefully writing a plan for Matt a month at a time - I would be happy to e-mail to you. |
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I'd love to look at it too BTW how old is your Matt?
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Erin
Faith Filled Days
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JennGM
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| Posted: Aug 22 2007 at 2:05pm | IP Logged
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Thanks so much for the great ideas. Keep them coming.
Now, what kind of notebook or album did you use to make your alphabet books?
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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chicken lady
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Jenn do you have cuisneaire rods? Rainbow resources sells fun (inexpensive) books that use these rods. Some are alphabet so you cover math and reading. They are fun, easy, asethically pleasing and easy enough your ds can bring them to you on the bed or couch.
You have my continued prayers.....
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JennGM
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| Posted: Aug 22 2007 at 2:42pm | IP Logged
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chicken lady wrote:
Jenn do you have cuisneaire rods? Rainbow resources sells fun (inexpensive) books that use these rods. Some are alphabet so you cover math and reading. They are fun, easy, asethically pleasing and easy enough your ds can bring them to you on the bed or couch.
You have my continued prayers..... |
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Thanks for the suggestion, Molly. I have a little set of rods, I'm not sure how complete. But after a few suggestions, I think it's time for an updated catalog from Rainbow Resources.
Molly, thanks for the prayers. I feel like we're playing a game of tennis, offering things up for each other's sufferings.
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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chicken lady
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| Posted: Aug 22 2007 at 3:02pm | IP Logged
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JennGM wrote:
| Molly, thanks for the prayers. I feel like we're playing a game of tennis, offering things up for each other's sufferings. |
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It's all in the body of Christ. I know for me yesterday, sitting in that dentist chair having my mouth excavated, I was praying for all the intentions on this board. It is awesome really when you think about it!
Now if you need more rods please let me know I have extra I could pop in the mail to you. I am leaving tomorrow for a week, after I get back I can mail them if you need some......
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Caroline
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JennGM wrote:
Now, what kind of notebook or album did you use to make your alphabet books? |
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I've been doing an alphabet book just using a two pocket folder with 3 prongs. I found a 10 pack of paper folders for $1 at Target.
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Devoted Wife to and Mama to three beautiful boys and another little boy due in September , and two beautiful souls in heaven
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Donna
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Jenn,
In the Hands of a Child has a beginning reading lapbook as well as preschool and early elementary packs. They are awesome!
Also found preschool lapbooks at Knowledge Box Central.
I've ordered from both companies and love their products.
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Donna
DH, Keven
Jason, Stevie, Marie, Jackson, Clara, and Aaron
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Moments Like These
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4Real Forums : Nurturing the Years of Wonder
Topic: Keeping It Simple for Language and Math
